Amorim Left Guessing Over AFCON Trio Before Bournemouth Clash

Ruben Amorim admits he is heading into Manchester United’s clash with Bournemouth still unsure whether three key players will be available, with Africa Cup of Nations duty threatening to disrupt his plans days before kickoff.

Speaking on Friday, the United head coach confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui remain in limbo as negotiations continue with their respective national federations over release dates. With the match scheduled for Monday, the uncertainty is becoming a genuine selection headache.

The situation centers on the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21 with Morocco facing Comoros. Under FIFA regulations, players must be released at least one week before their country’s opening match. Cameroon and Ivory Coast, represented by Mbeumo and Amad, respectively, both begin their tournaments on December 24, tightening the timeline considerably.

Amorim acknowledged that talks are ongoing with the Cameroonian, Ivorian and Moroccan football authorities and that the club is pushing for clarity as quickly as possible. He hopes a final decision will arrive by Saturday but stopped short of offering any guarantees.

“We are still in conversation with the national teams,” Amorim said during his pre-match press conference. “The game is Monday. They are here, they are training and we are trying to prepare all the scenarios to prepare the game.”

That uncertainty has forced United into a balancing act. On one hand, the players are training normally and could be involved against Bournemouth. On the other, FIFA’s stance leaves little room for maneuver if the federations insist on an early release.

Amorim did not hide his frustration, but he attempted to frame the chaos as a test of squad depth rather than an excuse. “It’s frustrating, but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play,” he said. “So it’s a good thing, I think. We have players to cope with everything.”

From a tactical standpoint, the absence of all three would be significant. Mbeumo’s pace and direct running offer a different profile in attack, Amad has been one of United’s most creative wide options in recent weeks, and Mazraoui provides versatility across the back line. Losing them simultaneously would force Amorim into reshuffles at both ends of the pitch.

The timing is particularly awkward given United’s growing injury list. Amorim confirmed that Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt will definitely miss the Bournemouth match, leaving defensive options stretched even before the AFCON question is resolved.

There is slightly more optimism surrounding Benjamin Sesko, who has missed the last four games with a knee problem. However, even that potential boost comes with caveats. The striker has recently been dealing with food poisoning, which has slowed his return to full fitness.

“Maguire is out, De Ligt is out,” Amorim said. “Ben, we have to see. He has some food poisoning, but let’s wait. We still have two trainings before the game.”

Beyond the immediate fixture, the AFCON uncertainty speaks to a broader challenge for clubs competing across congested calendars. Managers are often left juggling domestic priorities while international tournaments loom, with little control over release timelines. For United, the question is not just who starts on Monday, but how the squad absorbs multiple disruptions at once.

If the trio are released early, Bournemouth could face a United side missing key contributors in attack and defense. If they remain available, Amorim gains short-term continuity but risks losing them immediately after. Either way, the margin for error is slim.

As Monday approaches, United’s preparation continues under a cloud of unknowns. The players are training. The coach is planning for every outcome. What remains unclear is which version of his squad will actually step onto the pitch and how long that version will last.